Winx Stakes 2026 Form Guide & Runner Analysis

A genuine top-level performer, although the 1400m looks like a slight query for him. We’re happy to watch him this time around and wait for a more suitable assignment before getting involved.

We wouldn’t be dismissing Gringotts at this price. He has already shown he can perform first-up, and he doesn’t often put in a bad effort. A worthy first-four contender in the 2026 Winx Stakes.

We can’t make a case for backing Lindermann. He’s being set for targets later in the carnival, and it would be a big upset.

It was always likely that one runner would arrive here after a lengthy winter campaign, and that horse is Midnight Dynamite. He has continued to race consistently for Bjorn Baker, but the workload may be starting to catch up with him. Against Group 1 opposition, he could falter.

Be very careful about dismissing Beiwacht. He has won both of his starts over 1400m and appears ideally placed to produce another strong performance. There’s plenty to like about his progression, and he should continue improving as an older type. At $18, he has the potential to score an upset.

A talented horse with plenty of upside for Waller, but his ideal distance is likely to come later in the spring. He looks like a runner who could eventually progress towards the 2000m feature races, potentially even developing into a Cups contender. His ability is undeniable, but this looks like an early assignment rather than his main target.

We’re struggling to make a case for Green Spaces winning this. He appears destined for longer distances and could find the early tempo far too sharp. At $126, the market reflects the significant challenge he faces.

The horse everyone is here to watch. Autumn Glow is an outstanding talent and returns as the clear favourite to make a winning start to her campaign in the Winx Stakes. At $1.90, she remains odds-on, but her price is still appealing given what she produced during the autumn. She’ll smoke her pipe in the run and let down with a big effort in the straight.

Aeliana is a difficult runner to assess with confidence. There’s no questioning her ability, but a recent setback has set her spring carnival back a few weeks. That’s not ideal, and as the odds suggest, she could struggle this time around.

Fangirl presents a similar picture to Aeliana. It’s difficult to know exactly where she sits fitness-wise, while her autumn and winter preparation didn’t quite reach the heights we’ve seen previously. We’re prepared to watch and learn from this run.

An intriguing runner who normally attracts plenty of interest from punters, although the $46 quote suggests the market isn’t expecting a huge performance. She could find a spot near the speed and give a strong account. If she gets the right run, we think she has enough to sneak into the Top 4.

Her record when returning from a break is a major positive, and there appears to be plenty of confidence surrounding her preparation from the Waller camp. This isn’t simply a fitness run for Lady Shendandoah, with enough speed in her arsenal to make her presence felt late. If the leaders overdo it early, she could be the runner charging home strongest. The $21 price is worth considering.

There has been some support for Barnavara since the market opened, with her price shortening from $251 to $151. Perhaps her connections are prepared to take a chance, but we’re finding it difficult to see her troubling the major contenders. She looks up against it in this company.

The exciting runner who could be one of the major talking points of the spring. The key question is whether she is forward enough to challenge Autumn Glow first-up. We certainly wouldn’t rule it out. She needs luck from the inside draw, but if the breaks go her way, she could finish powerfully.